Buoyant sustaining seat



Jun 2%; 1952a C. R BARNES BUOYANT YSUST'AINING SEAT Filed Oct. 21 1947 INVENTOR. ECEL R. SARNES ATTORNEY Patented July 2 4, 1951 "HUI.

I fiarneaLumbertomNvQ, assignor of oneha l. t J- W -Sofi bss n enn a -N.

lflppli tion'octo it; 21, ie ngseria nd. x ziola'iiiis. (or-9417.51)"

This invention relates to aquatic devices and more particularly to adevice rcr use primarily by'children in the water for providingthe necessary buoyancy to afford freedomfrom fear or; in

other Words to give to the user a feeling of sets:

curity in order that personality may be developed, beneficial exercise may, be obtained and enjoyment or pleasure experienced. I Z

:Numerous types of devices for ,-supporting weight, or devices having a specific gravity less 1. than that of water have been provided. ,These, however, have been subject to various and. sundry criticism, including their cost, complicated construction, bulkiness, instability, the constant danger of collapse, and. the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive device, of unitary construction, which will be diflicult to upset, and may be easily handled by child or adult.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one application of the invention and its use;

Fig. 2, a top plan view;

Fig. 3, a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4, a fragmentary section on the line 44 of Fig. 2. The present invention is a simple, practical buoyant structure designed to afford pleasure as well as promote swimming and healthful exercise in the water and which, due to its construction and appearance, will eliminate fear in the mind of the user. The invention consists of an endless tube or tubular annulu with a cross web forming a saddle or body support with openings for receiving the legs of the user and with spaces at each side of the web for aifording access to the water in which the device is supported. A lanyard or rope rail i disposed along the tube upon the top as shown, or otherwise.

With continued reference to the drawing, an endless pneumatic tube I ll is provided with a valve stem H for inlet and discharge of air, inflating gas or other lighter than air substance. A web or saddle I2 is disposed transversely acros the tube It] diametrically thereof from one side to the other. This web is formed integrally with the tube or separately therefrom and attached thereto permanently on the inner surface thereof intermediate the top and bottom surfaces by any desired means, as for example, by adhesive or vulcanizing means.

- i The web"l"2 at"i ts'ends is preferably of a width to provide substantial linealcontact or connecl lll' for stability as well as'for added;--stren'gth. The web [2 is-substantially n'arrower acr'oss-its central portion than the internal diameterbf the tube, thereby providing openings or unobstructed" spates' one at each side thereof.

-Leg o'penin'gs "I3 are-provided in the webl z in order-"that'the legsof the person using the device 'mayproject downwardly so that the body-*of the per'sonis supported above the web. The

' -catenary' "or arc-of the web allows the center of g'ravity 'o'f'the user-to then be displacedbelow ping is reduced. Also, it will be apparent that the device may be used in an inverted position.

In orderthat the device may be grasped easily as well as for other purposes, a lanyard or rope rail I4 is disposed around the surface of the device, being rotatably and slidably carried in a plurality of supports l5, each of which supports is provided with an enlarged base l6 providing a relatively large surface area attached to the tube III. The base It, like the web or saddle l2, may either be formed integrally with the tube or attached thereto in any desired manner as by vulcanizing or by adhesive.

With the device described, which can be deflated and folded compactly, a child may sit in the seat or saddle, as shown in Fig. 1, the leg holes being so placed that the weight of the child is carried centrally of the tube and below the water line so that the child is free to move about and play without tipping the device.

The device i so constructed that there is no danger of a knot becoming untied or a string breaking so that the seat can be detached from the tube. Possibility of chafing thereby causing deflation of the tube is eliminated. The rope rail is not merely a part of the seat but is a part of the tube and can be gripped from the outside, and also can be used to anchor the device or as a means to which small play objects, such a toy boats or the like, can be attached.

The device is susceptible of use by an adult by placing his legs through the openings one at each side of the web or saddle l2 and is particularly adaptable to be used in aquatic sports including a modified version of water polo, Water soccer, Jousting, or the like.

by that which is shown in the drawings and depprtionstin'bfigrally secured-for-assuhstantial lineal each support having an opening spaced slightly from its base, and a flexible hand rail in said openings.

2. A propellable aquatic sustaining seat comprising a pneumatic annulus, valve means for controlling the admission and discharge of air into and from said annulus, a web loosely extending across said annulus and having its end extent 'to' saidannulu's between the upper and lower surfaces thereof, said web having an intermediate portion of a width less than the width scribed in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

prising a pneumatic annulus valve means ior is 1. A propellable aquatic sustai'ning seateomcontrolling the admission and discharge of air into and from said annulus, a web loosely extending across said annulus and having its end portions integrally secured for a substantial lineal --;extent to said annulus between theupper and ,,lower surfaces thereof, said-web havingan intermediate portion of a width less than ,the 5.,width of'its end portions and also less. than the internal diameter of said annulusand providing spaces at. each side: of the web, within said {an- .,;nulus through which spaces paddling may. be ,donehfor propelling the device in the watch. said :web, having openings centrally thereoifor are r .ceiving the. legs of the user, supports .spaced along said annulus. having bases of relatively largedimeters-permanently attached to said annulus,

of its end portions and also less than the internal diameter of said annulus and providing spaces at each side of the web within said annulus through which spaces paddling may be done for propelling the device in the water, said web having openings centrally thereof for receiving the legs of the user.

CECIL R. BARNES.

' 7 gEFERENoEs CITED g The following references are of record in .the I 'tlle'oftlfiis patent: 7

, UNITED STATE PATENTS Number Name Date 1,297,665 Edmonds Mar. 1-8, 1919 1,749,820 Johnson Mar. 11, 1930 1,764,852 Phillipsj June'l'l, 1930 2,207,025 Rison July 9,-1940 21390199 Walsh Dec; 4, 1945 

